Steve H Podzimek, age 98, of Springfield, SD, passed away peacefully on Saturday, July 11, 2026 at the Majestic Bluffs Hospice House in Yankton.

Funeral Mass will be 10:30 AM, Monday, July 13, 2026 at St. Vincent’s Catholic Church in Springfield. Burial is in St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in Dante, with military honors.

Born on December 26, 1927 in rural Dante, South Dakota, Steve was the beloved child of John and Mary (Sedlacek) Podzimek. With an 8th grade education, working on the family farm with his parents and siblings was all Steve needed until the age of 23, when he decided to adventure out and enlist in the Army on January 10, 1951. After 14 weeks of intense infantry training in Fort Riley, Kansas, Steve was sent to fight in the Korea War. Life in Korea was not ideal, Steve lived outside for months and had several life threatening experiences. In October of 1951, Steve was injured during combat in an attack and later sent to a hospital in Japan where he was awarded the Purple Heart - a combat-specific decoration awarded to service members injured or killed during enemy action. Upon his return to the states, Steve married Maxine Starr and soon after, their daughter Karen was born.

Steve dedicated his life to his faith, love of history and reading. He was known for his quiet disposition, soft spoken nature and simple life needing only what was necessary.

Steve loved to keep up on world news by reading newspapers and listening to his radio. His love of travel, old movies, and music drew him to Hollywood, California where he lived for over 50 years. During that time he worked as a postal carrier and then drove a school bus for disabled children. Over the years, Steve would travel back to South Dakota by bus to see family. Steve loved to visit cemeteries to pay respects to family and friends that had passed before him. Steve was a member of the American Legion Post #132 in Springfield, SD.

Steve loved family gatherings where he would sit and listen to conversations throughout the room. Steve was not a talker, but very much a listener. He then stressed the importance of having the information shared with other family members.

Steve is survived by his son-in-law Myron Zwanziger, grandchildren: Tina (Jerry) Talsma, Avon, SD, Tona (Ray Valdes) Zwanziger, New Orleans, LA, Tory Zwanziger, Florence, SC, and Todd Zwanziger, Hartford, SD; great grandchildren: Hayden and Hensley Talsma, Isabela (Eduardo) Balaguer, Victoria Valdes, and Kenzi Zwanziger; great-great grandchildren: Sophia and Vivian Balaguer; and sister Georgiann Pravacek.

Steve was preceded in death by his parents John and Mary, siblings: John, Louis, Mary, and Clara; and his beloved daughter Karen.

The family extends their heartfelt gratitude to all who cared for Steve over the past several months. The compassion and support will forever be appreciated.